Global
Madagascar
Technology improves fire record
Edited by Leon Louw
The Ambatovy Nickel mine in Madagascar has not lost plant equipment to
hazardous fires since the mine started producing in 2012.
T
he Ambatovy mine is about 80km
east of Antananarivo, the capital
of Madagascar, near the town of
Moramanga. The mine is only a few kilometres
from the road and rail networks that connect it
to the port city of Toamasina on the east coast.
The ore body at consists of two large,
weathered lateritic nickel deposits located
approximately 3km apart (the Ambatovy
Deposit and the Analamay Deposit). Combined,
the Ambatovy and Analamay Deposits
constitute one of the world’s biggest lateritic
nickel reserves, covering an area of about 1600ha,
with depths ranging between 20m and 100m.
Due to the soft nature of the ore, no blasting
is necessary. Ore is surface-mined by hydraulic
excavators and delivered to the Ore Preparation
Plant (OPP) in articulated haulage trucks.
According to Sandvik Mining and Rock
Technology business developer for fire
suppression, Nick Steinz, the company’s Eclipse
fire suppression systems have contributed to the
enviable safety record at Ambatovy.
“The success of the mine’s safety
interventions speaks volumes for its policies
and procedures; and points to astute selection
of fire suppression
systems that are
correctly suited to
the kind of risks
The Ambatovy mine is one of the largest nickel mines in the world
associated with its type of surface mining
activities,” says Steinz.
Progressive approach
Steinz says the fire record is a good example of
a mine’s management engaging with its supplier
to adopt the right technology and systems
The fleet equipped with Sandvik’s Eclipse fire suppression system.
[10] MINING MIRROR AUGUST 2019
www.miningmirror.co.za